Glynn Nicholas
Encyclopedia
Glynn Nicholas is an Australian comedy performer, writer and producer. He works as a stand-up comedian, mime artist, character actor and musician.
, Australia and became renowned locally for the large crowds he entertained in the central shopping precinct, Rundle Mall, which had recently been closed to traffic. In 1982, he studied mime and circus skills at San Francisco's Hayward College and performed regularly at Pier 39
. In 1986 he was crowned national champion at the Australian busking championships.
children's show Here's Humphrey
performing songs, dances, stories and games with a large pant-less mute bear
. In 1990 he was nominated for an ARIA
award for best children's album.
Off air he developed a character called Patẻ Biscuit a parody of another presenter on the program Patsy Biscoe
. He mimicked her distinctive bob haircut, sing-song voice and 'school-prefect' manner but added cruelty, blood and a naughty hand puppet called Bongo to the juvenile story-telling.
In 1989 Patẻ Biscuit found a ready audience on the ABC's
new comedy show The Big Gig
, where Nicholas had a regular spot. In one episode, the real Patsy Biscoe
was seen presenting the Big Gig show with Bongo, having tied Patẻ Biscuit up. The segment was a huge hit.
In 1990 he took over the role as host from Wendy Harmer
for two seasons.
In 1991 Angus and Robertson published his book Bedtime Stories with Pate Biscuit, which sold 18,000 copies.
In 1996 Nicholas co-produced a ten-part comedy series with the ABC, The Glynn Nicholas Show. It was written by Nicholas and fellow Australian comedian Shaun Micallef
.
Other writing credits include Kissing Frogs (1996) and Leaves Falling at Midnight (2001).
He also turned his hand to Shakespeare for the Melbourne Theatre Company
's production of Comedy Of Errors
, played Major-General Stanley in opera in Essgee Entertainment
's 1994 production of Pirates of Penzance, and in the variety productions The Vaudeville Extravaganza (1994) and Oh Come All Ye Stressful (2005).
In the 2000s his Glynn Nicholas Group entertainment company was producing and touring several shows internationally including Certified Male, and the musical Eurobeat: Almost Eurovision directed by Nicholas, which was the top-selling show of the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was named the best musical production at the inaugural Music Theatre Matters awards.
Busking
Glynn Nicholas began as a busker while touring Europe in 1977. His act of singing and playing up to three instruments at the same time, soon developed to focus on mime and audience participation. He brought his act home to AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Australia and became renowned locally for the large crowds he entertained in the central shopping precinct, Rundle Mall, which had recently been closed to traffic. In 1982, he studied mime and circus skills at San Francisco's Hayward College and performed regularly at Pier 39
Pier 39
Pier 39 is a shopping center and popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco, California. At Pier 39, there are shops, restaurants, a video arcade, street performances, an interpretive center for the Marine Mammal Center, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual 3D rides, and views of...
. In 1986 he was crowned national champion at the Australian busking championships.
Early career: television
Nicholas first appeared on Australian television as a presenter on Channel 9'sNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
children's show Here's Humphrey
Here's Humphrey
Here's Humphrey is an Australian children's television series first aired on Monday 24 May 1965. It featured a character known as Humphrey B. Bear. In the early days Humphrey was known as Bear Bear and was named Humphrey B. Bear as the result of an on-air competition...
performing songs, dances, stories and games with a large pant-less mute bear
Humphrey B. Bear
Humphrey B. Bear is an Australian children's television series and its fictional character namesake is an icon of Australian children's television. Humphrey B Bear was first broadcast on Adelaide's NWS-9 on Monday, 24 May 1965. The show became one of the most successful programs for pre-schoolers...
. In 1990 he was nominated for an ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
award for best children's album.
Off air he developed a character called Patẻ Biscuit a parody of another presenter on the program Patsy Biscoe
Patsy Biscoe
Patsy Biscoe is an Australian singer, notable for her television appearances on children's television shows, Here's Humphrey and Fat Cat and Friends...
. He mimicked her distinctive bob haircut, sing-song voice and 'school-prefect' manner but added cruelty, blood and a naughty hand puppet called Bongo to the juvenile story-telling.
In 1989 Patẻ Biscuit found a ready audience on the ABC's
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
new comedy show The Big Gig
The Big Gig
The Big Gig was a popular Australian television comedy series based on the British TV series Saturday Live. It was produced and broadcast by the ABC in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was produced and directed by Ted Robinson, who started his career as the director of the second series of the...
, where Nicholas had a regular spot. In one episode, the real Patsy Biscoe
Patsy Biscoe
Patsy Biscoe is an Australian singer, notable for her television appearances on children's television shows, Here's Humphrey and Fat Cat and Friends...
was seen presenting the Big Gig show with Bongo, having tied Patẻ Biscuit up. The segment was a huge hit.
In 1990 he took over the role as host from Wendy Harmer
Wendy Harmer
Wendy Harmer is an Australian author, writer, radio show host, and comedienne.-Early life and career:...
for two seasons.
In 1991 Angus and Robertson published his book Bedtime Stories with Pate Biscuit, which sold 18,000 copies.
In 1996 Nicholas co-produced a ten-part comedy series with the ABC, The Glynn Nicholas Show. It was written by Nicholas and fellow Australian comedian Shaun Micallef
Shaun Micallef
Shaun Patrick Micallef is an Australian actor, comedian and writer. After ten years of working in insurance law as a solicitor in Adelaide, Micallef moved to Melbourne to pursue a full-time comedy career in 1993...
.
Later career: theatre
Since 1992 Nicholas has focussed on live comedy, writing and performing in several live shows ranging from the solo Glynn with a why? and Crossing the Line, to ensemble pieces like Scat and all that and the often reprised Certified Male written with his regular artistic collaborator Scott Rankin.Other writing credits include Kissing Frogs (1996) and Leaves Falling at Midnight (2001).
He also turned his hand to Shakespeare for the Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
's production of Comedy Of Errors
Comedy Of Errors
Comedy Of Errors was a Glasgow-based progressive rock band formed in January 1984. Their first recording was a demo called "Ever be the Prize", and was recorded at a studio in Blanefield in 1985, and followed by a mini album in 1986....
, played Major-General Stanley in opera in Essgee Entertainment
Essgee Entertainment
Essgee Entertainment is a professional performing and publishing company formed in 1981 in Australia. Its founder and chief executive officer is entertainer Simon Gallaher.-History:...
's 1994 production of Pirates of Penzance, and in the variety productions The Vaudeville Extravaganza (1994) and Oh Come All Ye Stressful (2005).
In the 2000s his Glynn Nicholas Group entertainment company was producing and touring several shows internationally including Certified Male, and the musical Eurobeat: Almost Eurovision directed by Nicholas, which was the top-selling show of the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was named the best musical production at the inaugural Music Theatre Matters awards.